Dino Party

Party Recap

We had a dinosaur party for my son's second birthday. This was the cheapest party I've ever done and it still was a big hit! Everything was purchased from a dollar bin or made at home (for pennies). The kids assembled 3D dinosaurs as their craft and they went on a fossil hunt in the backyard. They were paleontologists, of course, so they opened their fossils to see what was inside. After the activities, we had cake, ice cream and presents. At the end of the party all of the kids got to open a giant paper mache dinosaur egg with treats inside (as their favor). We had a dino-mite time!
www.mythreetinythings.blogspot.com

Theme

Guests

Location

Date

29 January 0011

Idea

Party Highlights

Desserts

cake and ice cream
to save on money we had the party after lunch and only served sweets.

Activities / Games

build a paper dinosaur (50 cents from Michaels)
fossil hunt and opening (made fossils out of sand, cream of tartar and water. put a small dino inside. purchased a pack of 12 from the dollar store), opened paper mache eggs to see their party favors (dinos from the dollar bin).

Best Moment

Watching kids open the fossils with their little paint brushes and flashlights. Watching the kids open their paper mache eggs.

What People Ate

What People Drank

water and lava juice (red punch)

💬

31 comments

Angela W
wrote:

What an amazing idea!!

Feb 03, 2011

Katie M
wrote:

I am doing a dinosaur party for my son's 3rd birthday and LOVE so many of the elements of this party. I really love these aged papers with the dinosaur facts. Were these purchased? If so will you please direct me to where I can buy them? If they were made I would love the info on how to make them!!
Thanks so much! Great party!
Katie

Mar 18, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

I made them by printing descriptions on tan card stock (home computer). Then I tore the edges and crumpled the paper into a ball. I opened it back up and rubbed brewed coffee on the paper to give it the aged look. Then I dried them in the oven (on a cookie sheet)for about 4 minutes at 325 degrees.
I got the dino pictures off google clip art and the facts are from www.kidsdinos.com
I made 12 of them and you are welcome to them if you'd like to have them. I may be able to email them to you. I hope this helps.

Mar 18, 2011

Damica Z
wrote:

Abolutely gorgeous :)

May 06, 2011

Damica Z
wrote:

How did you make the 'fossils'?

May 06, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

Thank you. I think opening them at the end was a favorite for the kids!

May 06, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

Here is the recipe I used...
Sand Clay Recipe
Use an old cooking pot for this project. I used a disposable foil tray. The sand is obviously abrasive, and can damage the finish on the inside of your pot. I also multiplied this recipe several times to have enough so that each child had 4 fossils to open.
Combine all in a pot:
1 cup sand
1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
Mix with an old spoon and place on a medium-hot stove. Stir and cook until the ingredients liquefy a bit, and then begin to thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Mold or cover objects, and allow to harden overnight!
Have fun!

May 06, 2011

Kim H
wrote:

Could you plz tell me how u did these? I am doing a dinosaur party for my boys this summer and love these along with some of the other dino ideas you have!

May 21, 2011

Kim H
wrote:

would love this recipe if you dont mind

May 21, 2011

Kim H
wrote:

Could I get you to email me these if possible @ bunglepooh@rocketmail.com ty

May 21, 2011

Kim H
wrote:

where did you get these from if you dont mind

May 21, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

I don't have the exact recipe I used but I don't think it has to be exactly the same. I used refrigerated sugar cookie dough and removed about a third of it. I added baking cocoa to the 1/3 so that it became darker. I cut out the foot shape from the new chocolate cookie dough and placed a footprint on top of each regular cookie (made from the remaining dough). Then I pressed in mini chocolate chips & chopped up pecans. I also added cinnamon to the top. Then I baked them as directed.

May 21, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

I used a basic meringue recipe I found on Google. There are a ton and they are all about the same. I added a bit more powered sugar than was required. Then I placed the mix in a piping bag. I piped the bone shape on wax paper (on a cookie sheet). Then they harden and are complete. They are extremely fragile so be sure to spray your wax paper with Pam and make more than you think you need. I also dropped spoonfuls of melted chocolate on the same wax paper and stuck a small bone in it. Then I sprinkled crushed graham crackers and chopped pecans on top to look like dirt.

May 21, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

I will check my other computer to see that I saved them.

May 21, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

Kim...I have been trying to email them to you but for some reason my computer isn't allowing me to do it. I will try to have my husband do it if you still are in need. Sorry...

Jun 03, 2011

Andrea O
wrote:

What did you use to make the eggs so big to put big toys inside

Nov 11, 2011

Heather T
wrote:

I paper mached balloons with newspaper. The last couple of layers were made with tissue paper to give it color. I added some gold paint and a name on each one. I cut a jagged slit half way around the top and put the toys inside. When the egg was sitting the slit didn't show. The kids used the slit to help them open the egg up. It was the biggest hit of the party. Most kids kept the egg and wore it as a hat...unexpected but cute. It was a very messy job but it's one you can do far in advance. Good luck! Hope this helps.

Nov 11, 2011

Angela W
wrote:

what type of paint did you use? i made a practice one but used paper bag and it was sloppy :(

Feb 05, 2012

Heather T
wrote:

Angela, the only paint I used was for the gold splotches which was just a $1 bottle of acrylic from Michaels that I applied with a paper towel and my hands (to make it sloppy/speckled). The bright color of the egg is from tissue paper. I first wrapped the balloons in newspaper to get the thickness I wanted. Then I covered the newspaper in 3 sheets of tissue paper. That's what gave them the blue, red, yellow and green color. Hope that helps.

Feb 05, 2012

Su M
wrote:

Hello Heather, am planning my baby boys 2nd birthday party and would love to have these.
They look soooooo amazing :)
If possible could you send them to me too smurillo17@yahoo.com
Thank you so much :)

Feb 28, 2012

Su M
wrote:

these are soooo cute!!! and a great idea
thanks for sharing :)

Feb 28, 2012

Su M
wrote:

My 2 children love that book, its sooo cute

Feb 28, 2012

Laura O
wrote:

Could I have the bone recipe too? Brooklyns-mom@Hotmail.com

Dec 13, 2012

Heather T
wrote:

Laura O. I don't actually know which recipe used. I literally just google searched "meringue cookie recipe" and picked one. You could also look on Pinterest for a recipe. It's not any special recipe, just one I found on the internet and added extra powdered sugar to. Hope that helps!

Dec 13, 2012

Laura O
wrote:

Thanks, I found a meringue recipe. Would you mind sharing this recipe? These look so yummy!

Dec 22, 2012

Laura O
wrote:

This is too cute. I was looking at your instructions and I have a ? How did you get the newspaper to stick to the balloon? Did you use a flour/glue mixture? Did you also use it to make the tissue paper stick?

Dec 22, 2012

Laura O
wrote:

oops I just found your directions. lol

Dec 22, 2012

Claudia C
wrote:

Hi heather. I was wondering if you had a link to help me with the dino facts that you used. I thought this was a great idea and I wanted to do something similar for my sons party. Thank you!!

Jan 14, 2013

Tanya M
wrote:

I would love to have any information pertaining to your dinosaur party. I am planning on in a month and love what you have done.

Apr 30, 2014

Misty R
wrote:

Hi Heather, I know this post is a few years old now but these dinosaur prints are amazing. I'm planning my sons birthday party (he's turning the big 5) and he and his Sissy are obsessed with dinosaurs. I would love to use your work for decorating the treat table and afterwards frame them fot their dinosaur themed bathroom which is currently in the works. If you still have the info help would be appreciated. Thank you Misty
Shalin.rubner@yahoo.com

Jan 01, 2015

Elizabeth C
wrote:

Hi, I know this post is really old but I'm wondering if I could possible also get a copy of the dino page fact if you still happen to have them?? Thanks
andyandliz.cawthorn@gmail.com